Piano-action flange.



W. i. LUTHVIERS. PIANO ACTION FLANGE.

APPLICATION FILED AuG. 3. 1914.

Patented Oct. 19. '1915.

Ewen/tof,

@9i/human s WILLIAM Il. LUTHMERS, OF OLNEY, ILLINOIS.

PIANO-ACTION FLANG-E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented (Det. 19, 1%515.

Application led August 3, 1914. Serial No. 854,762.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, VILLIAM J. LUTH- MnRs, a citizen of the United States, residing at` Olney, in the county of Richland and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in PianoQAction Flanges; and I do declare the following to bel a full, clear, and exaet`description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

' My invention relates to piano actions, but more especially to flanges used in conjunction with the latter to pivotally support the hammer and damper in their proper position.

One object of this invention is to provide a device of this character having means for partially enveloping the `transverse rails of a piano which will prevent horizontal movement onethe part of said flange.

A further object is toprovide means for the removal of the hammer without neces sitating the withdrawal of the flange. Y

A still further object is to provide a unique means for retaining the hammer and damper springs in proper position which will at the same time permit of their ready removal.

A still further object is to simplify the construction of the parts whereby they may be made more -accessible when repairing. is necessary.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists of certain details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts which will be more particularly pointed outand claimed.

In the accompanying drawing 'in which corresponding parts are designated by similar reference numerals Figure 1 is a vertical section taken across the rails 0f the piano actionand illustrating the damper and hammer butt connected by my improved flange. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical section of the hammer butt, damper and rail, illustrating my improved flange applied to the latter, .and positioned to pivotally retain said hammer and damper. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the flange members separated and in position to receive the pintle of the hammer butt. Fig. 4 is a plan View partly in section. Fig. 5 is a detailed vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

In its present exemplification my improved flange comprises a substantially U- shaped lower plate 1, formed of any suitable resilient metal, and adapted to be seated upon and partially embrace the longitudi nally extendingtongue 2 on the main rail 2 whereby any horizontal movement on the part of said body 1 is prevented as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Extending laterally from the body 1 are the two arms 3 and 4 which are ireduced at their outer portion as at Overlying the U-shaped plate 1, in fact the latter may be said to telescope therein, is a similarjshap'ed upper plate 6 formed of the same material, and carrying laterallyprojecting arms 7 and 8 which overlie the arms 3 and 4 and have their outer portion so reduced.v as to make the configuration thereof identical to that of the underlying arms 3 and 4. The meeting edges of two of these arms 3 and 7 are united, and immediately adjacent their united edges they are formed with the transverse opening 9, which receives the pivotal pin 10 in the damper 11, whereby the latter may be pivotally supported in its proper position as will be readily understood.

As it is frequently desirable to detach the hammer 12 for repairing or other purposes without disturbing the damper 11, the inner `faces of the arms 4.and 8 which by reason of the resiliency of the plates are normally separated, have formed in their adjacent faces contiguous to the extremities thereof transversely extending channels 13. These channels coact when the arms 4 and 8 are brought together, so as to completely house and pivotally retain the pin 13 carried by the hammer butt 14.

To permanently maintain the flange in its adjusted position upon the rail 2, the telescoping U-shaped plates 1 and 6 are formed with a centrally arranged registering opening 15, through which and into said rail 2 there passes a screw 16. With the plates arranged in this manner and the screw 16 passing therethrough as aforesaid, adjusting the latter will cause said plates as well as the arms carried thereby to be pressed into contact, so that if the pin 13 of hammer butt 14 is disposed between the arms 4 and 8, in alinement with the channels therein, when said arms have been fully brought together the pin 13 will be entirely vinclosed by the Walls of channels 12, and thereby suitably pivot the hammer butt 14. In view of the above it will be apparent that adjusting the screw 16 Will cause the arms 8 and l1 to be brought in to or out of engagement as the case might be thus permitting the hammer to be removed or brought into proper position Whenever desired.

ln order that the damper and hammer' springs may be easily removed and replaced when broken as Well as to avoid the necessityl of a bridle ribbon and Wire as Well as an additional hammer spring supporting rail, l' provide the sides of the U-shaped plates 1 and 6 with registering openings 17 and l7i. The former 17 beipgin one side thereof, and the other 17 being formed in 'the opposite side, and in diagonal relation to the opening 17 as clearly shown in Fig. li.

into these openings are fitted/the lower extremities of the springs 18, the upper eX- tremities thereof contacting with the damper and hammer in the usual manner. rl`he' simplicity of this construction alloWsa spring to be easily replaced When desirable, and at the same time prevents the separation of the upper and lower plates should the screw 16 be accidentally loosened through vibration or other causes.

lt vvill thus be apparent that l have effeeted a flange which is simple, inexpensive to construct, elhcient in operation and one which will greatly reduce the cost of repairing.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the constructionk and operation of the invention will be readily understood Without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resortedto/ Without departing from' the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the claimed invention.

Having' thus described my invention, what l claim is: A

1. .er flange for piano actionscomprising upper and lower overlying resilient plates li-sliaped intermediate their ends, each of said plates being formed With a centrally lnged opening, the openings in the reactive plates being disposed in alinement, filly extending arms carried by the exremities of saidplates, the former being reduced at the outer portion thereof, one pair of said arms having the extremities united and formed with a transversely extending epeninff to form an eye and the other pair Y. aereof being free and formed with coacting grooves in the adjacent face of their extremities.

2. A tlange for piano actions comprising upper and lower overlying resilient plates shaped intermediate Ytheir ends,

plates 'seing formed vvith a plurality of Y 1 1` fw v; their extremities vii each of Lief/,eee

openings, one of the latter being disposed in a plane at right angles to that of the others,

the openings in the respective plates being' disposed in alinement, laterally extending arms carried by the extremities of said plates, the former being reduced at the outer portion thereof, one pair of said arms having the extremities united and formed with a transversely extending opening to form an eye and the other pair thereof being free and formed With coacting grooves in the adjacent face of their extremities.

3. A iange for piano actions comprising a resilient plate bent intermediate its ends to form an eye, the free ends of said plate being brought to an overlying position and U-shaped intermediate said eye and the extremities of said free ends, said U-shaped portion being formed With a plurality of openings, one of the latter being disposed in a plane at right angles to that of the others, the openings in the respective Ushaped portions being disposed in alinement, and oppositely disposed ylaterally extending larms formed by said U-sliaped portion of the plate, said arms having the outer portion thereof reduced, the free ends of said plate forming one of said arms having transversely extending grooves in the adjacent surfaces of their extremities to coact substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

et. The combination 'with a main rail, a longitudinally extending rib thereon, a hammer, a damper, and springs to actuate said hammer and damper; of upper and lower lil-shaped resilient plates seated upon said rib, each of said plates having therein a centrally arranged aperture, the apertures in the respective vplates being disposed in alinement, a screw passing through said apertures and into lsaid rail; laterally eztending arms carried by said plates, the former being reduced at the outer ends thereof, one pair of said arms having their extremities united and .ormed with an eye, i

free and formedv at li coasting channels, a pin extending through said damper and said eye whereby to pivotally support said damper, and pin extending through said han'imer and inclosed by the Walls of said channels when said plates have been pressed together by said screw, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. fr i'iange for piano actions comprising upper and lower overlying resilient plates lat-shaped. intermediate their ends, each of said plates beine` formed with an opening, the `openings in the respective plates nein" the other pair beii disposed in alineinent, laterally extending arins carried by the extremities of said plates, one pairof said arms having their extremities united .and formed with transv'erselyrirtending opening to form an eye and the other pair thereof being free and genees formed with eoaotng grooves in the adjacent faces of their extremities substantially as and for the purpose set fortli.

6. A flange for piano actions comprising opper and lower overlying resilient plates U-slmpetl intermediate t ier ends said plates being termed with e plurality of opeiiirigs, the plane of one of the latter being in e plane at right englesto that of the others the openings in the respective plates bein disposed in alinemeiit, laterally extencling' arms carried by the extremities ot Voletes one pair or seid arms having said their extremities uniteol versely extending and the other pair thereof being free and formed with ooztoting grooves in the adjacent face of their extremities substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

and formed with e trans- .ln testimony whereof l have hereunto set 20 my hand in presence of two subscribing Wtnesse WILLAM J. LUTHMERS. Witnesses:

JAS. V. COEN,

EDITH Hmmm,

opening to form an eye 15 

